My landlord is violating building codes in Los Angeles. I suffered injuries in an accident on the property. Can I sue the landlord?

05 Mar 2019

I’m sorry to hear about your accident. Hundreds of thousands of people are injured every year in accidents that occur on public and private property. Although these accidents can occur due to no fault of the property owner, in some cases they are caused by a failure to comply with building codes.

There are many building codes at the local, state, and federal level. They have originated over many decades in an effort to ensure that buildings and facilities are safe for visitors and occupants in the U.S. The minimum standards contained in building codes must be complied with by law. Building codes govern every part of building construction, and they also regulate the materials that can be used, permissible design for the building, the building’s components, and much more. There are also codes that govern issues like sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, elevators and escalators, emergency escapes, and much more. Building inspectors are in charge of enforcing federal, state, and local building codes.

In spite of all the rules in place, building code violations are not uncommon. When there is a building code violation, in some cases people on the property can suffer injuries as a result. If you were harmed because of a building code violation, you can file a lawsuit to receive compensation from the person or company responsible for the violation.

When a plaintiff files a premises liability lawsuit, he or she must be able to prove that the defendant was negligent. In your situation, if your landlord is violating building codes, that fact can be used to prove negligence. If you have been harmed because of your landlord’s failure to follow building codes, you should speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles premises liability attorney at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.